Nigel Adkins gives first post-match interview as Charlton boss – and gives verdict on 2-2 draw at AFC Wimbledon
Nigel Adkins will get the chance to work with Charlton Athletic’s players in the international break – and saw Saturday’s 2-2 draw at AFC Wimbledon as a learning process.
The 56-year-old was only appointed as Addicks manager on Thursday morning and had little time to get to grips with the group before the trip to Plough Lane.
Charlton twice led through Jayden Stockley and Diallang Jaiyesimi but Ryan Longman pounced twice for the Dons. The leveller on 65 minutes came after Akin Famewo underhit the ball back to Ben Amos after the keeper played a short goal-kick to the defender, who was inside the penalty area.
Adkins said: “It was interesting, wasn’t it? It was a game where I got to know everybody. We scored two really good goals. Liam Millar broke down the side and put the ball if for Jayden and DJ. Obviously we’ve had to change things in the first minute losing Conor Washington [with a hamstring injury]. We’ve had to change the formation as well. They made five changes and went to a diamond, maybe that was a little bit unexpected to start off with.
“We’ve conceded two really poor goals. The second, in particular – it’s about decision-making. I don’t understand why they have gone and made that decision. We weren’t looking to play out from the back in that way – in any way, shape or form. It’s about players making decisions on the field of play, isn’t it? It’s a poor one and it’s cost us.
“From that we’re looking to try and win the game, rather than just holding out, and that maybe affected us going with Chuks [Aneke] and Ronnie [Schwartz]. Chuks has hit the post at the very end.
“The positives you take from it is that we have got another point on the board and we’re still in the play-offs – to go and attack the remaining nine games.
“I’ve got an opportunity in the international break to get on the training ground and get to know the players and implement some of the things we have to try and do to help everybody.
“It’s good to see how people deal with the pressures of the game. It was very frantic. I’d like to see the team have a lot more controlled possession of the game, rather than it be end to end. I’ve got a chance to watch the game back now, reflect on it and learn from it – to see how we improve moving forward.
“We can’t keep conceding two goals, that’s the biggest thing you’ve got to learn. I always say to the players that I don’t mind you making a mistake, as long as it’s an honest mistake and don’t make the same one twice. You’ve got to learn from it. Life is about decision-making and normally mistakes like that are a younger player, who hasn’t been in that position before, while an experienced player has been in situations before and makes better decisions.
“It’s the experiences you go through. Unfortunately when you’re defending and make a mistake, and I speak from experience having been a goalkeeper, it ends up going in the net. It’s highlighted in big detail.”
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